The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-15

/ who was mounted on splendid thoroughbred.
/ dashed spurs into his horses TANKS, and in an
instant he was beside the man with the flag
| Take it down.. he commanded in a voice that
/ was hoarse with passion. Take it down, say!'
/ ne repeated.
''No, sir This flag never will come down"
| yelled its bearer defiantly. mo man can tear
down the stars and stripes without tearing out
| my heart!"
There was slow murmur of disapproval
from behind and policeman ran toward the
/ man with the flag.
! What We doing in this line1" he demanded.
| Hes got no right here" Hepp volunteered,
| and he added, II want him taken away and
| arrested"
The policeman grabbed hold of the old fellow
| and tried to wrest from his grasp the flag that
/ causing such commotion among the
| mourners, but he could not do it. The man
fought and protested so hard, and many of
| the crowd interfered for him that The policeman
| finally gave m the job bad one
| As the head of the procession toed up the
| hill leading to the viaduct the west side Of
Lake-street bridge. the first thing the observer
| on the big structure was American flag.
! It was not a big flag, yet very elaborate or
| costly one. but seen at the head of such a line
and on such an occasion it attracted wider no.
| tlce than if it had been of most elaborate de-
| sign and finish and composed OF the costliest
silk The man who carried it wore uniform
! Grand Army hat with heavy gold and black
| band, and his blouse partly concealed beneath a
| heavy chinchilla overcoat was adorned with big
| brass buttons that denoted him veteran.
This is the flag 1 carry" he shouted, OK
| cltedly, land no man shall tear it down"
| hind him keeping step with the muffied notes
| of funeral diree, hurried forward and sur
rounded the veteran, who waved his flag wildly
| above his head.
'"rake it away" one of the quartet Kissed.
mo, sir, won't" roared the old fellow, and
| he waved the flag again.
Take It down. tell you, said another. catch
ing the patriotic old chap by the arm.
M he won't" roared young fellow who
| overheard the conversation.
few idle spectators who had been hanging
on the bridge railing, waiting to the parade,
became interested, and moving up to the man
with the flag echoed the protest against it being
taken down. This movement excited the march
ing party from which the four men bad sepa-
rated, and threats OF violence were freely made.
Throw him in the river" one man suggested.
"Tou can't carry that here" said another.
1.-THE Mayor said 20 banners should be carried"
These sentiments were repeated by scores of
others. The ranks of the leading party
quickly broken and it's mem bers were advancing
threate ningly behind the old veteran, when
Frank A. Stauber sprang ont of his place at the
right of the Defense Committee and toward
the leader of the discontent marchers. Selz-
ing his arm Mr.. Stauber said: "You must not
make any trouble here. Let him carry his flag
if he wants to. He does it with no disrespect to
the dead If you attempt to interfere with him
you will only precipitate trouble, and that we
cannot afford to have"
.'Let him take it down." was the sullen reply.
Stauber bent over the and whispered
something in his ear that seemed to reconcile
him, for he turned at once to his little command
and ordered them to fall back into line. They
obeyed promptly and the veteran continued his
march, holding the stars and stripes triumph
antIy above his bead.
It only % cent Fourth of July flag, but
the stars and stripes were upon It, and it signi-
fled all that the national colors in the hand of
private citizen 1t waved from the hand of
quaint old Howell Trogden, veteran of many
battles, who has become i,nbued with the idea
that he is especially appointed to look after the
rights of the flag in times of peace. Yesterday
he secured flag of the description given and
had painted in large letters between the stripes
the significant words ''Fort Henry. Fort
Doneson. Shiloh, Pea Ridge. Chickasaw Bayou,
Arkansas Post Grand Gulf Willow Springs
Champion Hills. Back-rver Bridge Jackson.
Raymond. New Hope Church and Vicksburg."
With this he Joined the procession at the foot of
Milwaukee avenue, and marched at its head,
waving the colors. until the depot was reached
At several points he waved his flag and called
for cheers, to which responses were ready and
hearty.
1T carried the flag at vicksburc" he declared.
with emphatic shake of his head erasping
the little staff more firmly, land carrying
the American flag at the front to-day, and where
is the man who dares to tear it downa They
tried it. back here a little way, but it didn't
work" And as the hero o. the flag talked he
marched on with measured step, calling out,
''left left" every now and then, to keep the
boys that had congregated about him in the
proper step. Yes sir" he continued. chats
the American flag. and I'll dare any to lay
hands upon it. 1t is my business to that
the national colors-the ensign of true liberty
is carried at the head of this procession, and I'm
getting there! Do you that fact" he shouted
to solid phalanx of policemen on Fifth avenue,
near the depot; s'wen touch it if you dare."
THAT comes pretty nearly being my flag"
was the prompt reply from of them The
color bearer not demonstrative; he
simply walked steadily forward, with true
soidierly tread, waving his flag and daring any
to touch it. He marched into the depot
and the way cleared for him by the police
with much alacrity if his contingent had
been part of the funeral procession proper.
han hah 4 Mi had his ha dad
up the little flag and walked quietly out of the
depot, feeling very proud of his accom- plshment.